Feedback method for active scanning of user terminal, and access point

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a feedback method for active scanning of a user terminal and an access point, and relate to the field of communications, where a timer is set in the access point, and after the timer reaches preset time, buffered probe response message can be cleared, thereby further reducing an overhead of channel resources. The feedback method includes: receiving a probe request message from a user terminal, where the probe request message includes scanning time preset by the user terminal; generating and buffering a probe response message of the probe request message; setting and starting a timer corresponding to the user terminal according to the received scanning time preset by the user terminal; and clearing the buffered probe response message after determining that the timer reaches the preset scanning time and the probe response message is not sent to the user terminal.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method, comprising:
 receiving a probe request message from a user terminal, wherein the probe request message comprises a scanning time; 
 buffering a probe response message in response to the probe request message; 
 starting a timer corresponding to the user terminal according to the scanning time, wherein the timer is set by using an identifier of the user terminal, an initial value of the timer is set to the scanning time, and a timing manner of the timer is set to a count-down timing manner; and 
 in response to determining that the timer reaches the scanning time, clearing the buffered probe response message that is not sent to the user terminal; 
 wherein the timer reaching the scanning time indicates that an elapsed time measured from the end of the reception of the probe request message exceeds the scanning time. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the scanning time is maximum channel scanning time. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the scanning time is comprised in an information element of the probe request message. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the probe response message is a unicast or multicast probe response message. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the user terminal identifier is a medium access control (MAC) address. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus, comprising:
 a receiver, configured to receive a probe request message from a user terminal, wherein the probe request message comprises a scanning time; 
 a processor, configured to buffer a probe response message received by the receiver in response to the probe request message; and 
 a memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:
 start a timer corresponding to the user terminal according to the scanning time, wherein the timer is set by using an identifier of the user terminal, an initial value of the timer is set to the scanning time, and a timing manner of the timer is set to a count-down timing manner; 
 determine that the timer reaches the scanning time; and 
 clear the buffered probe response message that is not sent to the user terminal; 
 wherein the timer reaching the scanning time indicates that an elapsed time measured from the end of the reception of the probe request message exceeds the scanning time. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the scanning time is maximum channel scanning time. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the scanning time is comprised in an information element of the probe request message. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the probe response message is a unicast or multicast probe response message. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the user terminal identifier is a medium access control (MAC) address.